2018 -- S 2009 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC003179/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2018

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, Pearson, Seveney, Coyne, and Calkin

     Date Introduced: January 11, 2018

     Referred To: Senate Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-2 of the General Laws entitled "School Committees and

Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 - The Rhode Island Board of Education Act]" is hereby

amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-2-9.6. Joint purchasing agreements for technology and IT infrastructure.

     Notwithstanding any other law or rule, any two (2) or more school committees may

establish joint purchasing agreements between and among themselves or with the Rhode Island

Society of Technology Educators ("RISTE"), a domestic nonprofit corporation, for the purposes

of establishing bids pursuant to chapter 55 of title 45, and jointly purchasing technology related

goods and services. The RISTE, acting on behalf of any school committee(s) that are members of

a joint purchasing agreement with RISTE, may establish specifications and bid on behalf of such

member school districts. The RISTE shall comply with bidding requirements of chapter 55 of title

45. The RISTE and any consortia created pursuant to a joint purchase agreement under this

chapter shall be entitled to all the rights and benefits set forth in §37-2-56. Notwithstanding the

foregoing, nothing in this section permits any non-public school or non-public school district

access to the master price agreement maintained by the department of administration, division of

purchases.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION

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     This act would allow school committees and the Rhode Island Society of Technology

Educators ("RISTE") to enter into joint purchase agreements for the purchase of technology and

IT infrastructure.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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